Upgrading fleet...

bedges · Post by **bedges** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 3:58 pm

I realise within the game-world pilots would be fond of their ship, and rightly so - I know I'd be quite attached to anything which consistently protected me from the ravages of the vacuum and got me out of various scrapes and 'cultural misunderstandings' - but is it inconceivable that pilots getting paid to be part of my fleet would turn up their noses at a significant ship upgrade if I could afford one and they couldn't?

Do fleet members automatically refuel, repair and rearm?

If I have to keep an eye on my own crew's pension plans to keep them happy, do I need to do the same with fleet members. If not... why not?

Post by **Vice** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 4:10 pm

but is it inconceivable that pilots getting paid to be part of my fleet would turn up their noses at a significant ship upgrade if I could afford one and they couldn't?

They may, periodically, change their own ships from time to time after you return from being away. They won't mind if you change your ship.

Do fleet members automatically refuel, repair and rearm?

Yes, when you are not 'in the game's universe', they are considered independent entities once again and they will restore themselves once they have the opportunity again. There is also a way to get them to reload while under your command (involves taking them to stations, then releasing them from your command, once reloaded and if they remain, then re-establishing your fleet offer).

If I have to keep an eye on my own crew's pension plans to keep them happy, do I need to do the same with fleet members. If not... why not?

Yes, no. Every ship in the game is considered independent with its own crew and pilot/captain responsible for managing his/her crew. You do not need to micromanage other ship's crews for the same reason they don't micromanage your crew, you are in charge of your own ship. When you establish a fleet link with another ship, you are setting up a mutual agreement with them and they will offer you some combat assistance in exchange for repeat payments. They are then 'on call' to help you when you are around, but they are not turning over the keys to their ship to you.

bedges · Post by **bedges** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 8:54 pm

... you are setting up a mutual agreement with them and they will offer you some combat assistance in exchange for repeat payments.

Understood, but it seems a wee bit inconsistent. I set up a mutual agreement with a navigator, or a weapons operator and benefit from their experience in exchange for repeat payments, however if I don't pay them enough they get fed up and leave at the earliest opportunity.

If I employ several pilots at a fee of (say) 10k and end up leading the fleet into ever-greater peril, only ever paying 10k while I rack up millions, wouldn't their collective loyalty drop? Wouldn't the crews be having a quiet word with their respective captains or even considering mutiny?

With reference to my earlier question, I did indeed mean "can I buy an upgraded ship for a fellow fleet member" rather than "will fleet members become jealous at the size of my booster rocket". Either way the answer seems to be 'no', so fair enough.

On a side note it's a testament to the quality of this sofware that I am giving it this ridiculous amount of thought.

verbosity · Post by **verbosity** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 9:32 pm

Originally posted by bedges
If I employ several pilots at a fee of (say) 10k and end up leading the fleet into ever-greater peril, only ever paying 10k while I rack up millions, wouldn't their collective loyalty drop? Wouldn't the crews be having a quiet word with their respective captains or even considering mutiny?

Consider that the other pilots are making the same cash as you for the contracts you take, and are possibly mining/trading when you are, if anything they are making a bigger profit by getting paid to be near you as they profiteer anyway........

Post by **Vice** » Sat Oct 11, 2008 10:53 pm

Understood, but it seems a wee bit inconsistent. I set up a mutual agreement with a navigator, or a weapons operator and benefit from their experience in exchange for repeat payments, however if I don't pay them enough they get fed up and leave at the earliest opportunity.

If I employ several pilots at a fee of (say) 10k and end up leading the fleet into ever-greater peril, only ever paying 10k while I rack up millions, wouldn't their collective loyalty drop? Wouldn't the crews be having a quiet word with their respective captains or even considering mutiny?

Probably a valid point. They are two fairly similar gameplay options. The fleet option simply requires less management and uses a fixed pricing structure, but it would make sense that the two 'hiring' options might be more closely related in function and requirements. One reason the fleet option doesn't require more maintenance is due to requests of keeping micromanagement to a minimum, kind of a 'hire and forget' option, while local crew management would require more player involvement due to the diversity of benefits and localization of those benefits through crew members living in the same ship. Interesting point though, something to keep in mind as I work on the game and any potential new options that might get added.

On a side note it's a testament to the quality of this sofware that I am giving it this ridiculous amount of thought.

Thanks, and although I may obviously be bias, I agree with your conclusion that such a freeform design does often invite more thinking, particularly in the area of such gameplay options. When you have a lot of different things to do and ways to play a game, it gives the gameplay many optional 'threads' (pathways/choices) and that can invite inquiries into new threads or changing current ones since some may seem incomplete or limited. It's encouraging to see these kinds of discussions surface and it's exactly that kind of idea exchange that has resulted in so many new options being added along with improvements to existing ones.

[Edited on 10-11-2008 by Vice]

verbosity · Post by **verbosity** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 9:08 am

on that note would it be possible to hire a capital ship to your fleet? Admittedly this should cost a silly amount of money ( say 500Mil or more.....)

edit
Just playing Devils advocate, Since I only really play in MP I can't use fleets anyway.........

[Edited on 10-12-2008 by verbosity]

tha_rami · Post by **tha_rami** » Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:31 am

Haha, I remember asking for hiring capitals back in the Riftspace days. I'd love it, but I fully understand it doesn't fit in the lone wolf philosophy.

warsign · Post by **warsign** » Mon Oct 13, 2008 8:06 am

Originally posted by tha_rami
Haha, I remember asking for hiring capitals back in the Riftspace days. I'd love it, but I fully understand it doesn't fit in the lone wolf philosophy.

Lolx500

BraveHart · Post by **BraveHart** » Tue Oct 14, 2008 1:31 am

Now wouldn't it be Cool if you can fly a Vonari Fighter class ship

what a Hoot that would be.